Course Name: Geomorphology: Md. Ilias Mahmud Lecturer Barisal University Barisal

Course Name: Geomorphology
Lecture: 3
Md. Ilias Mahmud

Lecturer
Barisal University
Barisal
1
Lecture Outline
• Definition of Geomorphic Processes

• Types/Categories of Geomorphic Processes
• Functions of Geomorphic Processes
2
Definition of Geomorphic Processes
• Processes- This term generally applies to many physical

and chemical ways by which changes are brought about in
the earth’s crust as well as on it’s surface.
• Geomorphic processes - include all those physical and

chemical ways which effect a modification of the earth’s
landforms.
3
Types of Geomorphic Processes
• Geomorphic Processes are two types:
i) Hypogene or Endogenous Processes : the endogenetic
processes originating from within the earth fostered by
diastrophic and sudden forces, caused by thermal
conditions of the interior of the earth and varying
physical and chemical properties of the materials of
which the earth’s interior has been composed of,
introduce vertical irregularities on the earth surface and
create various suites of habitats for biotic communities.
e. g., diastrophic, seismic and volcanic activities
Types of Geomorphic Processes
II. Epigene or Exogenous Processes: Exogenous processes
originating from the atmosphere driven by solar energy change
the face of the earth’s surface through erosional and
depositional activities.
For example:
a) Fluvial process (rivers, streams)
b) Marine process (sea waves)
c) Aeolian process (wind)
d) Glacial process (glacier)
There are certain Extraterrestrial Processes which are neither
related to the interior of the earth not to the atmospheric
conditions: Topographic effects of the impact of meteorites on
the earth surface.
Outline of geomorphic processes
1) Epigene or exogenous processes
A) Gradation
i) Degradation
a) Weathering
b) Mass wasting or gravitative transfer
c) Erosion
ii) Aggradation (Deposition)
B) Work of organisms, including man ( anthropogenic)
2) Hypogene or Endogenous Processes
A) Diastrophism
B) Volcanism
3) Extraterrestrial processes
A) Infall of meteorites
Epigene or exogenous processes
Gradation: All those processes which tend to

bring the surface of the lithosphere to a
common level.
Gradational process belong to two categories –
A) Degradation- which level down the surface
B) Aggradation -which level up the surface
Degradation
• Three distinct degradational processes are:
i) Weathering
ii) Mass-wasting
iii) Erosion
i) Weathering: It is commonly defined as the disintegration
or decomposition of rock in place. Two main types of
weathering processes are:
a) Physical weathering
b) Chemical weathering
Weathering is a static process and does not involve removal
of any material by a transporting agent.
Degradation
ii) Mass-wasting: It involves bulk transfer of masses
of rock debris down slopes under the direct
influence of earth’s gravity.
 The process of mass-wasting is usually aided by the
presence of water.
 With increasing water content the process shows a
series of types of mass movement of earth’s
material- from those that are very slow (low water
content) to those that are rapid (high water
content)
• The gradational series are as follows:
Landslides-characterized by little water
and large load moving down over moderate to high slopes
Increasing water content

Debris avalanches
Earth flows
Mud flows
Sheet flows
Streams- characterized by much water
and relatively small load moving over low-angle slopes
Degradation
iii) Erosion: The breaking down or
disintegration of rocks due to the physical
forces associated with the natural agencies,
followed by removal of the dislodged rock
fragments and particles, and the sum total of
the process is defined as Erosion.
Aggradation
• Aggradation is the process of elevation of low-
lying tracts, through depositional materials, by
various geological agents like wind, river, glacier
etc.
• Aggradation is an inevitable consequence of
degradation, and it contributes to general leveling
of the earth’s surface.
• Deposition result from a loss in transporting
power
Hypogene or Endogenous Processes
• Diastrophism, and also Volcanism, are classified
as hypogene or endogenous processes, because
the forces responsible for them originate at some
depth within the earth’s crust. They elevate or
build up portions of the earth’s surface and
thereby prevent the gradational processes from
ultimately reducing the earth’s land areas to sea
level.
Diastrophism
• All processes that move, elevate or build up portions of the
earth’s crust come under diastrophism. They include:
(i) orogenic processes involving mountain building through severe
folding and affecting long and narrow belts of the earth’s crust;
(ii) epeirogenic processes involving uplift or warping of large parts
of the earth’s crust;
(iii) earthquakes involving local relatively minor movements;
(iv) plate tectonics involving horizontal movements of crustal plates.
Orogenic movement are more localized than are epeirogenic and

usually involve tangential forces with resulting compression or
tension of rock strata.
Volcanism
• Volcanism includes the movement of molten rock or magma
onto or toward the earth’s surface. Molten rock may be
extruded through centralized vents called volcanoes or
through extended openings or fissures as mass eruptions.
• They consist of rock deformation resulting in domal folds,
disturbance of overlying rock strata, or the intrusion into
older rocks of igneous masses, which, when subsequently
exposed by erosion, give rise to topographic forms different
from those developed upon the enclosing strata.
• It is beyond the scope of geomorphology to explain the
complex changes within the earth which initiate volcanism.
Functions of Geomorphic Agents
Three functions of geomorphc agents
are:
i) Erosion
ii) Transportation
iii) Deposition
Erosion
• Definition: The breaking down or disintegration of
rocks due to the physical forces associated with
the natural agencies, followed by removal of the
dislodged rock fragments and particles, and the
sum total of the process is defined as Erosion.
 Is there any difference between weathering and
erosion ?
Weathering involves no transportation whereas

Erosion must involves transportation
Erosion, Transportation and Deposition
Cycle of Erosion
• In a cycle of erosion the surface features undergo changes
as a result of the processes acting upon them. This
changes are systematic and follow each other in a regular
sequence. These sequences are termed as stages. There
are total four stages in cycle of erosion:
i) Initial stage
ii) Youth stage
iii) Mature stage
iv) Old stage
Commonly youth, mature, and old stages are used in the
study of topographies produced by different geomorphic
agents.
Transportation
• Definition: process by which the weathered
materials are removed from the site of their
formation by various geomorphic agents.
Although in a strict sense transportation is not a

part of erosional process, most geologist consider
transportation as an integral part of erosion.
Deposition
• Definition: the process whereby accumulation of
transported materials, which results from the loss
of the transporting capacity of the geomorphic
agents. This happens when the velocity is reduced
or the material being transported exceeds the
capacity for transporting.
• It may also happen because of chemical
precipitation of the materials transported in
solutions.

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Course Name: Geomorphology: Md. Ilias Mahmud Lecturer Barisal University Barisal

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Course Name: Geomorphology

Md. Ilias Mahmud

• Definition of Geomorphic Processes

• Functions of Geomorphic Processes

• Processes- This term generally applies to many physical

• Geomorphic processes - include all those physical and

Gradation: All those processes which tend to

Increasing water content

Orogenic movement are more localized than are epeirogenic and

Weathering involves no transportation whereas

Although in a strict sense transportation is not a

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